VONS' UNIT 'STORE' USES RESTAURANT-STYLE CONCEPTS

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Vons Cos.' meals "store within a store" in a unit here is using restaurant-style merchandising and product selection to sell steak dinners instead of mac and cheese -- and is happy with the sales dividends so far, said a source close to the project.As reported in SN's April 7, 1997 issue, the new Vons meal concept was designed to have "a restaurant quality about it," and had its

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Vons Cos.' meals "store within a store" in a unit here is using restaurant-style merchandising and product selection to sell steak dinners instead of mac and cheese -- and is happy with the sales dividends so far, said a source close to the project.

As reported in SN's April 7, 1997 issue, the new Vons meal concept was designed to have "a restaurant quality about it," and had its debut here two-and-a-half months ago in a remodeled store on El Camino Real.